LAWRENCE Dallaglio goes into England's World Cup showdown against Wales on Sunday planning to banish once and for all the memory of the biggest mistake of his international career.

England have beaten Wales in 10 of their last 11 meetings - but it is that fateful day at Wembley back in 1999 which still haunts Dallaglio.

It was Dallaglio, England captain at the time, who took the decision to opt to kick for touch to keep the pressure on the Welsh in the last 10 minutes when an easy three-points penalty looked there for the taking.

Minutes later when Scott Gibbs had slalomed his way through the English defence for a brilliant Welsh try and Neil Jenkins had added the conversion to take Wales to a one-point triumph, Dallaglio's decision looked naive.

It had cost England the Grand Slam and Dallaglio shoulders that burden to this day, though he is swift to point out it is not the whole story.

"I was captain on the day and I have to accept a lot of the responsibility for that decision," he admits.

"But discipline and the number of penalties we gave away were other factors. I'd like to think that as a captain and a player that I learned a great deal from that game. To learn lessons is what it is all about.

"No, it wasn't my best decision because ultimately everyone can point to that decision and say it cost England the Grand Slam."

England's penalty count is again a huge cause for concern. So far they have conceded 49 penalties - joint worst with South Africa of the teams contesting the quarter-finals.

With Wales possessing a world-class goal-kicker in fly-half Stephen Jones any indiscipline is bound to be severely punished.

"We were fortunate against South Africa that the penalty count didn't cost us more than it did," said Dallaglio.

"We have got to trust our defence more. It is down to everyone's over-eagerness but we have to listen to the ref more and work with him."

Dallaglio is certain that, after four games in which England have failed to reach the peaks of their summer triumphs against Australia and New Zealand, they are at last ready to slip into top gear with perfect timing.

"You've got to accept criticism," said Dallaglio. "We all know we can play a lot better. It's the measure people have got of England that we can beat a side like South Africa by 19 points and raise so many questions about the performance.

"I've seen a lot of World Cups where a lot of sides have played their best rugby at the beginning of the tournament and not ended up with the trophy.

"We will be better this weekend. The stakes are higher now and when that happens I believe the strength, the character and the leadership of this side will really come through.

"All the players have the ability to lift themselves. If we get the result everyone's happy, if we get the result and play well that gives us more confidence and momentum."

Not that Dallaglio is taking anything for granted against a Wales side which scored four tries in a stirring 53-37 defeat against New Zealand last weekend - a performance which has given what appeared to be the most routine clash the spiciest of edges.

"I'd be spinning it if I tried to say England weren't massive favourites but, if you don't get things right in a one-off game, the result can go against you," said Dallaglio.

"The performance against the All Blacks will have lifted their whole squad. They have got some players in great form, Iestyn Harris in particular.

"Wales found holes in the New Zealand defence which hadn't been there. They've got a very attacking team and powerful runners. And, while results have gone our way in recent years against Wales, this is a unique one-off occasion.

"There is genuine anticipation because there is no second chance. In the pool stages there is an element of holding back a few things. There's no chance of anyone holding anything back now. We might not have moved up to a new level on the pitch yet, but we certainly have this week in training."

For 31-year-old Dallaglio and other 30-something members of England's Dad's Army pack it is almost certainly their last World Cup - even more incentive if they needed any.

"More importantly it is the end for this whole group if we lose," said Dallaglio. "It's Sydney or London - but that builds the excitement.

"I believe when the pressure is on we are at our best and the pressure is definitely on for everyone, but we can rise to the occasion."